VICTORIA — British Columbia's education minister has fired the entire Victoria School Board after a lengthy dispute over its refusal to allow police in schools except in emergencies, in a rare move the ousted chair called "profoundly undemocratic."
The elected board of School District No. 61 has said the ban, in place since 2023, was based on reports that some students and teachers — particularly those who are Indigenous or people of colour — did not feel safe with officers in schools.
But B.C. Education Minister Lisa Beare said Thursday that students were at risk in the district from the board's failure to implement a revised safety plan, as she fired the nine-member board and appointed a lone trustee to oversee the district until municipal elections set for the fall of 2026.
“Our government has given this board multiple opportunities to act, and they have not delivered,” Beare said in a statement.
The difficult decision to remove the elected board was necessary to bring a collective focus to the district and support students, she said.
The trustee is Sherri Bell, a former president of Camosun College and superintendent of schools in Victoria, and Beare said her appointment, effective immediately, cleared the way for completion of a safety plan.
School District 61 administers about 20,000 students in 28 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and seven secondary schools in the municipalities of Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Victoria, View Royal and a portion of Saanich and Highlands.
Last month, Beare had said Greater Victoria's public schools should have a district-wide safety plan in place by the time classes resumed in January or the board could be replaced.
She announced the appointment of a special adviser to help the board "revise and improve" a safety plan, saying it was evident there had been a breakdown between the board and community agencies and rights holders.
But Beare said in her statement Thursday there was evidence the board did not assist the special adviser, demonstrated significant governance issues and failed to collaborate with partners in the development of a safety plan.
Former board chair Nicole Duncan said in an emailed statement that Beare's decision was "extremely disappointing and profoundly undemocratic."
"The former board members are reviewing it in detail and considering their next steps," she said,
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said in an interview that police could now get back to playing a minor but important role in schools, giving teachers and administrators their resources when needed.
"We're now going to be able to move forward on a plan and work with our teachers and administrators and build these positive relationships in a meaningful way that you're going to see present in schools," Manak said.
"Not every school, not every time, but you're going to see better engagement with students and school staff."
Beare said at a news conference that the board failed to work with local First Nations, police and other key stakeholders to prioritize student safety.
"First Nations leadership have told me directly that they cannot continue to work with a board that does not believe in governing with transparency, integrity or in the public interest," Beare said.
Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam expressed "immense gratitude for Minister Beare and her entire team" in a statement.
"Recognizing that there are individuals and communities who will be impacted in significant ways by this decision, we want to express our deep compassion for the members of the SD61 board and acknowledge the challenges that they may face as a result of this decision."
The firing of a B.C. school board is uncommon but not unprecedented.
In 2016, the BC Liberal government fired the Vancouver School Board for failing to bring in a balanced budget.
The same year, the North Okanagan-Shuswap board was fired over its financial woes.
Theresa Campbell, president and CEO of advocacy group Safer Schools Together, said in a statement that strong relationships and collaboration with First Nations and law enforcement are "vital components of a school district safety plan."
“These partnerships, combined with other key safety strategies and protocols need to be in place at all times, so any effort to ensure a comprehensive school district safety plan is developed and implemented as soon as possible will ultimately benefit district students, staff and parents," Campbell said.
Conservative Opposition critic for education Lynne Block called the firing of the Victoria school board "long overdue."
"We must acknowledge the wasted time and resources, as well as the unnecessary stress placed on the community," she said in a statement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2025.
Marcy Nicholson, The Canadian Press
